Open Letter to the Minister of Economic Affairs: Stop the Import of Feedlot Meat

Our latest investigation reveals serious animal welfare problems at EU-approved beef feedlots in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. At the same time, the Mercosur Agreement—which has been provisionally applied since May—promotes trade in beef without establishing binding animal welfare standards for production. Together with twelve other organizations, we are therefore calling on Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche to halt the import of meat from such feedlots into Germany. 

The Mercosur Agreement has been provisionally applied since May 2026. It provides for an additional quota of 99,000 metric tons of beef at a reduced tariff rate. However, without binding animal welfare requirements, the agreement may further encourage the import of meat from intensive feedlot operations.

Together with our partner organization, the Tierschutzbund Zürich, we documented a total of 21 feedlots in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay between August 2025 and March 2026. The footage shows injured and sick cattle, contaminated drinking water, a lack of shade and resting areas, and severe heat stress. After rainfall, the animals are sometimes knee-deep in mud and excrement. Without exception, every feedlot we documented exhibits serious conditions of neglect. 

In these feedlots, the cattle are also fattened on grain. Such a diet is not species-appropriate for ruminants and increases the risk of metabolic diseases. 

Particularly problematic: The documented facilities are approved for export to the EU. Meat from these production systems can therefore enter the European market. The Mercosur Agreement does not contain any binding and enforceable animal welfare standards for beef that tie market access to appropriate production conditions.

Together with 12 partner organizations, we have therefore called on Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche to take action in an open letter. We are calling for a national import ban on meat from feedlot operations, as well as binding and enforceable animal welfare standards in the Mercosur Agreement.

This is because the agreement promotes trade in animal products without establishing binding regulations governing the conditions under which they are produced. At the same time, the additional volume of imports increases competitive pressure on German farms. “More bovine meat imports from Mercosur mean more animal suffering. The federal government has the power to send a clear signal by imposing an import ban and to advocate for binding animal welfare standards in the Mercosur agreement,” says project manager Sabrina Gurtner. 

Find the open letter here (in German). 

Our call is supported by: 

• Animals - A Crime
• Animal Equality Germany 
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft für artgerechte Nutztierhaltung e.V.
• Deutscher Tierschutzbund
• Deutsche Juristische Gesellschaft für Tierschutzrecht e.V.
• Menschen für Tierrechte 
• Mensch Fair Tier 
• Pro Vieh 
• Tier & Mensch
• Tierärzte für verantwortbare Landwirtschaft e.V.
• Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz e.V. 
• Tierschutz Entwicklungshilfe e.V.